Coming off the excessive of their first buzzer-beater win since 2019, the San Antonio Spurs headed over to Phoenix to finish a four-game highway journey and play their last away recreation of the 2024-25 season. Regardless of being with out Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson (in addition to Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and Jeremy Sochan), the Spurs have been the higher crew for the primary 16 minutes of the sport, however the Suns acquired scorching to shut the second quarter, and Mitch Johnson rested virtually the complete rotation for the second half. The outcome was a blowout loss, 117-98, by which the Spurs had down by as a lot as 31 factors earlier than making issues somewhat extra respectable in prolonged rubbish time.
Julian Champagnie, who began instead of Vassell, kicked issues off with a steal and two transition threes earlier than helping Biyombo for Spurs first eight factors. Total he and Stephon Citadel mixed for 17 of the Spurs’ first 19 factors as they acquired out to a 19-13 lead halfway by. The Kevin Durant-less Suns initially saved up by attacking the offensive glass and hitting some well timed threes. They briefly took their first lead of the sport on a Devin Booker three off a Spurs turnover, however the Spurs bench instantly responded with an 9-0 run and led 33-28 after 12 minutes.
Malaki Branham opened the second quarter with a 3 and driving dunk to get the lead out to double figures, however issues would quickly disintegrate for the Spurs. They nonetheless led by 9, 42-33 on the first timeout after 4 minutes, however issues acquired sloppy on offense whereas Tyus Jones helped spear a 13-3 Suns run to retake the lead, forcing a Spurs timeout 4 minutes later. The Spurs’ struggles discovering first rate appears on offense continued, and the Suns prolonged that run to 20-5 to shut the half main 53-47.
Blake Wesley and Sandro Mamukelashvili began the second half instead of Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, who saved their excellent attendance data intact by enjoying within the first half. With the Spurs abruptly down to simply two rotation gamers in Citadel and Champagnie (three if you wish to rely Biyombo) and with Devin Booker discovering his groove on offense, Phoenix began the on an 15-4 run to get the lead out to 17. The Suns have been now purple scorching (no pun supposed), getting every part they needed in transition in opposition to a skeleton Spurs squad that appeared checked out on protection. They acquired the lead as excessive as 31, and general the Spurs have been outscored 39-17 within the third and down 64-92 heading into the ultimate body.
Citadel considerably surprisingly checked again in to start out the fourth quarter, and it was the Spurs’ flip to get out in transition with the Suns third string lastly coming in. They kicked issues off with a 23-9 run to get as shut as 14 with six minutes to go, however two straight threes from Collin Gillespie acquired the lead again out to twenty, primarily ending any hope the Skeleton Spurs had of constructing “the best comeback ever” after being down by 31 with simply over 13 minutes to go.
The win ended the Suns’ 8-game skid, however it was too little, too late for them as they have been already eradicated from play-in rivalry. On the similar time, the loss additionally locks the Spurs into eighth place in lottery odds.
Sport Notes
The was a story of 4 quarters for Citadel, who was scorching within the first quarter with 12 factors and three assists on 5-5 capturing, however within the center quarters, he was a part of the issue with the play turning sloppy. It was considerably shocking to see him return within the fourth quarter, however he was higher and performed a task in that vast run to briefly make issues fascinating. Regardless of the uneven efficiency, he nonetheless completed with a double-double of 16 factors and 10 assists.
Typically it has felt like Mamu used up all of his good will with the basketball gods in that Knicks recreation by which he scored 34 factors on 13-14 from the sphere, 7-7 from three. Since then, he has shot below 40% from the sphere whereas hitting simply 14-49 from three heading into this recreation. Tonight was higher, no less than from the within, as he scored 19 factors on 8-16 capturing (1-5 from three) and almost had a double-double with 9 rebounds.
Julian Champagnie had led all Spurs with 23 factors on 6-9 capturing from the sphere. Plenty of his makes are available in spurts, and much like Citadel, he was scorching within the first and fourth quarter however largely invisible within the center two. We’ve not often seen a recreation the place Champagnie stays scorching the complete 48 minutes (he’s Icy-Sizzling 0.5 — goes cold and hot inside video games), so if he can discover extra in-game consistency, he’ll proceed to be a robust weapon off what appears like will likely be a fantastic bench unit for the Spurs subsequent season.
Play of the Sport
I suppose the Spurs didn’t discover this recreation fascinating both. They didn’t save many highlights to work with, so right here’s Mamu discovering Wesley on the retailers go whereas they fought again within the fourth quarter.
Up subsequent: Sunday vs. Raptors
The Spurs will shut out the 2024-25 season at residence in opposition to the Toronto Raptors. Tip-off will likely be at 2:30 PM CT on FanDuel Sports activities.
